 Dr Dickson Despommier, professor of environmental sciences and microbiology at Columbia University, began developing the concept six years ago. His theory, that 'skyscraper farms' could provide plentiful food organically, without herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers, has attracted venture capitalists and scientists from around the world, intent on making the theory into reality within 15 years.
After a strawberry farm in Florida was wiped out by Hurricane Andrew, the owners took production into high-tech indoor farms. They now grow on one acre what they used to grow on 30. Expanding that to all crops (and some livestock - pigs are a possibility) as Despommier suggests, is the next step.
It's a tempting proposition - no more weather-related crop failures, diseases spread by livestock, or runoff polluting water sources. |
|
 |
 |
 |
Skyscraper farms can operate year-round with artificial lighting |
|
|
|
Not to mention locally-grown produce for the residents of central London, Manhattan and Tokyo, eliminating the environmental costs of transport (with fresher lettuces to boot).
Skyscraper farms can operate year-round with artificial lighting, so, on average, one indoor acre is the equivalent to between four and six outdoors, and companies are vying to reap the financial rewards that come from this increased efficiency.
OrganiTech, a company based in Delaware, wants to turn abandoned shipping containers piled on top of each other next to I-95 in Newark, New Jersey into farms. "This is a factory, not a farm," says Lior Hessel, the company's CEO, of the plan. "We just build lettuce instead of CPUs."
With the powerful combination of money and morals behind the idea, it's only a matter of time until the Archers relocate to a farm tower in Dubai. 
FIRST POSTED JUNE 14, 2007 |
